Across my Facebook feed today came this tidbit, purported to be "Advice From A Singer Sewing Manual (1949):
While snopes.com doesn't seem to have this in its files it's pretty clearly not actually from an official Singer manual, although it does explain why I don't sew - the likelihood I will ever have dishes done, beds made, AND have my hair done, makeup applied and lipstick ready all at the same time is, umm... remote. It did get me to thinking about the many and varied bits of advice we've been given in years past, though. Follow me below the dingledoodle cushion of common sense wisdom fold after a word from our sponsor...
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Three of my favorites from days of yore...
Duck and Cover
If I say "Duck..." I know anyone who went to school during the Cold War and into the 70's knows the rest of the phrase is "...and Cover." You also likely saw the classic eponymous educational film. I vividly remember the elementary school civil defense drills, where we cowered under furniture which, while appearing to be mere desks actually were impenetrable protectors for when nuclear war erupted without warning. I also remember being fairly convince even then that there was no way in hell my desk was gonna do all that.
Just Say No
In 1982, Nancy Reagan answered a child's question of what to do when offered drugs with "Just Say No." I was in my college years, and this advice was simple-minded and naive. Sure, saying no is a great in-the-moment response. The reality of drug availability, use and addiction are a little more complicated. I can't help but wonder if she would had the same response to the question "How do I handle someone trying to force me to have sex against my will?"
Clean Your Plate
Anybody else have parents who wanted their children to be members of the Clean Plate Club? Didn't matter if said child was full. Or hated the food on their plate. What mattered was that Starving Children Elsewhere didn't have the food on YOUR plate so don't waste it. I always wanted to send my extra over to said starving children, which seemed much more logical.
What pithy advice do you remember from your childhood? What advice today just makes you shake your head groaning? Do tell, once we all climb our from under our desks! While you're under there please take a look at tonight's Tops, formatted by
BeninSC, my go-to guy for advice in all things Top Comments!
From James Wells:
In this diary by Lefty Coaster, I really enjoyed the comment from citisven about climate change communication.
From Jon Sitzman:
I'd like to nominate this comment by plumbobb!
...for a snappy sound-bite comeback to an oft-heard RW smear against President Obama. Well worded and to the point, it's worthy of becoming one of OUR bumper stickers (it might be just a bit too long).
From Youffraita:
In Mets102's diary about a NY R candidate's racist comment, Mets and rexymeteorite have a terrific thread (beginning here!), and Meteor Blades delivers the punch line!
From JayRaye:
Please include this comment from Just Bob, if you dare!
(The 1067th comment in kos's diary!)
From indycam:
This comment by JJustin reads like a diary.
From Yours Truly, brillig:
sizzzzlerz rephrases GA candidate (Really-Do-I-Have-To-Say-Which-Party?) Bob Johnson's thoughts on dealing with the TSA, in Hunter's Republican House candidate says he'd 'rather see another terrorist attack' than deal with TSA.
Its the Supreme Court Stupid is waiting on an alert in Jed Lewison's Fox News chief scientist Dana Perino to TV meteorologists: Focus on Benghazi, not climate change. The thread is fun, too!
Top Mojo, courtesy of
mik!
1) The message this conviction sends is chilling by ontheleftcoast — 247
2) Explaining? by ontheleftcoast — 134
3) This is becoming all too common. Police assault by SphericalXS — 121
4) Ugh. This to me is by tmservo433 — 119
5) Try this one on, while you're pondering by xaxnar — 112
6) My wife makes more AND she is my boss. by docterry — 111
7) If the circumstances surrounding this assault are by David Harris Gershon — 111
8) Now, will you write a letter of complaint? by Ducktape — 106
9) The further message is by xxdr zombiexx — 104
10) It's extremely disturbing. by Eileen B — 87
11) This reminds me of the bad old days by edwardssl — 81
12) From twitter and i completely endorse by poco — 79
13) For me, the great mystery will always be... by markthshark — 78
14) You are correct, the judge was biased by snoopydawg — 74
15) But there really are death panels! by pollwatcher — 74
16) How does this keep happening? by voracious — 72
17) In our house... by newmexicobear — 72
18) And now a word from the owners... by ontheleftcoast — 71
19) Precisely thus. Hillary's not our worst, and by Jon Sitzman — 70
20) First they came for my by Its the Supreme Court Stupid — 69
21) Absolutely -- you need to write the VA's IG about by BlackSheep1 — 65
22) Parent of autistic kid who has followed this by tmservo433 — 64
23) I'm shocked that New Yorker's, by rebel ga — 64
24) Read your city's laws aloud at church by otto — 63
25) Sigh. I bet you eat quiche. ;) by ExpatGirl — 61
26) What would happen if non-Christians recited their by allie4fairness — 60
27) I wish we had an alternative. by Puffin — 60
28) ... by Trix — 58
29) Although Dante can be very patient at times: by koosah — 58
30) We heard that DKos has a way to add images by koosah — 57
31) What stood out to me in Deputy Dan's deposition... by dsnodgrass — 57
32) Excellent and thorough by sharman — 57
Top Comments with Pictures
(Thank you jotter!)